Dissemination and implementation of national physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and/or sleep guidelines among community-dwelling adults aged 18 years and older: a systematic scoping review and suggestions for future reporting and research

Abstract

Strategies for dissemination (purposive distribution of a guideline to specific audiences) and implementation (actions to support the general public in meeting guideline recommendations/behavioural benchmarks) of national movement guidelines (physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour, and sleep) have yet to be synthesized. The purpose of this systematic scoping review was to identify strategies for dissemination and implementation of national PA, sedentary behaviour, and/or sleep guidelines among community-dwelling adults (aged >18 years) and/or stakeholders in Canada and analogous countries. Five search approaches (e.g., published literature, grey literature, targeted web-based, custom Google, and content expert consultation) identified records (e.g., empirical studies, organizational reports, website pages, or guideline messages) that discussed and/or evaluated dissemination or implementation strategies for a prespecified list of guidelines. A modified strategy classification system was developed to chart the data. Forty-seven reports met inclusion criteria. Dissemination strategies (n = 42) were more frequently reported than implementation strategies (n = 24). Implementation strategies were more frequently evaluated (n = 13 vs. 7 dissemination strategies) and associated with positive outcomes. The 13 studies that evaluated strategies were at high or serious risk of bias. We identified limited information about the dissemination and implementation of national movement guidelines and identified strategies were rarely evaluated. Greater efforts are required to increase the impact of guidelines among the general public and stakeholders and to build the evidence base in this field. (Open Science Framework registration: https://osf.io/4tyw3 .) Novelty An adapted movement guideline dissemination and implementation strategy classification framework is provided. Knowledge translation efforts should be documented and evaluated to advance science and practice in the movement guideline field.

Perceptions of physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines among end-users and stakeholders: a systematic review

“…The systematic search retrieved 31 articles, of which the majority employed qualitative designs. Several negative responses were identified that, if addressed, may inform implementation strategies needed to ultimately improve uptake of guidelines [ 62 ].…”

Exploration of Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Best Practice in Exercise Medicine in Primary Pediatric Care—Pediatrician Perspectives

“…Exercise referral from general practitioners is common practice in several countries, including New Zealand and Canada; however, referral rates vary. In one UK study, general practitioners reported an overreliance on them to promote PA and advocated for a community of exercise medicine advocates, including other healthcare professionals (28,34).…”

Stakeholder perspectives on adapting and disseminating Ghana’s physical activity guidelines: a qualitative study

“…The dissemination and implementation challenges discussed here are not uncommon to national physical activity guidelines [ 49 – 52 ]. Across multiple countries, PA guidelines typically lack implementation strategies; dissemination strategies are more often included, but are not usually evaluated [ 50 , 52 ]. With the lack of strategic dissemination efforts, passive diffusion tends to occur, resulting in incomplete and inaccurate conveyance of national guidelines [ 53 ].…”

“…With the lack of strategic dissemination efforts, passive diffusion tends to occur, resulting in incomplete and inaccurate conveyance of national guidelines [ 53 ]. The most effective dissemination and implementation strategies are unknown [ 49 , 50 ], and greater efforts are needed to identify, adapt, and test strategies to build the evidence on effective strategies in community (vs. clinical) settings (Harden SM, Balis LE, Houghtaling B, Powell B: Implementation strategies in community settings: an introduction to the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) Compilation, submitted) and improve the overall public health impact of national physical activity guidelines.…”